Isolation of Campylobacter fetus subsp jejuni from zoo animals.
Over a 1-year period, 619 fecal specimens from animals at the Denver Zoo were cultured for Campylobacter fetus subsp jejuni. The organism was isolated from 35 animals, including 12 primates, 2 felids, a red panda, 13 hooved animals, 6 birds, and 1 reptile. Of 44 cultured fecal specimens from diarrheal animals, 31.8% were positive for Campylobacter, whereas only 5.6% of 575 specimens from animals without diarrhea were positive (P less than 0.001). Among 25 isolates tested, 12 serotypes were represented; several of these serotypes are commonly associated with Campylobacter enteritis in human beings. Campylobacter fetus subsp jejuni was isolated from 8% of 75 wild pigeons trapped on the zoo premises during winter months and from 26% of 75 trapped during March and April (P less than 0.01).
D000489:Alligators and Crocodiles / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000382:microbiology*; D001188:Artiodactyla / Q000382:microbiology; D001717:Birds / Q000382:microbiology; D002167:Campylobacter / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000662:veterinary; D002168:Campylobacter fetus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002335:Carnivora / Q000382:microbiology; D003120:Colorado; D005260:Female; D000882:Haplorhini / Q000382:microbiology; D007900:Lemur / Q000382:microbiology; D010527:Perissodactyla / Q000382:microbiology